Willie Mum On Playoffs

Even with 20 games left in the regular season and a six-game lead over the second-place Phillies as play began tonight, the mere mention of the word "playoffs'' gives Willie Randolph the willies.

While the Mets manager fully expects his team to be there in October and has all season long, Randolph doesn't want to talk about what he might do once the post-season arrives.

Will he use a four-man rotation? If so, who will be in it? More importantly, who won't be? Is Pedro Martinez in or out?

Will Carlos Delgado, who has been out for the past five games with a strained hip muscle, be ready in time for the first round? If not, will Shawn Green and Jeff Conine split the playing time at first base?

How about the bullpen where Guillermo Mota hasn't pulled his weight all season and has become a whipping boy for Shea Stadium fans? Surely he's not going to take up a roster spot?

Randolph backed away from any and all questions regarding October before tonight's game and asked that no one broach the subject until a more appropriate time. The Mets magic number for clinching their second consecutive National League East title was 15 as play began tonight.

"Let's get there first,'' said the manager, who has been fielding playoff-related questions daily since the Mets swept the Braves in Atlanta two weekends ago. "I don't feel real comfortable getting ahead of ourselves.''